Chris Pickering
EDC 430
November 24, 2011
Article Review #2
This article focuses mainly on the need to improve science instruction at an early age so more students are able to meet the science achievement standards. A three year study was conducted at two different low-income, poverty schools in Texas. The instruction given to the students included many inquiry based activities, as well as scientific vocabulary development.
During the past 20 years, the population of white students in public school systems has decreased from 68% to 55%. The Hispanic population has doubled in size as well. What this means is that there has been a much higher need for ESL teachers and other resources for the students. One of the problems with these students learning science is there inability to grasp many of the scientific vocabulary. This, coupled with the increase in standards for the science curriculum is causing many of these students to perform poorly.
A study was conducted in two high poverty schools in Texas to address this issue. During the study, teachers planned activities that addressed each of the standards. They also included inquiry activities. Teachers would use word walls, give handout, and provide lessons to address the scientific vocabulary to make sure each of the ELL students knew what all of the words meant.
Before the study 51% of the students studied were passing the state tests. After the study, 98% of the students were passing! That’s almost a 200% increase!
After reading this article it really opened my eyes to why some of students do not do well in the classroom or on state tests. Sometimes it is not the material that thye are having trouble understanding, it is simply the vocabulary. If they do not get the background knowledge and get to know the words, how are the students going to learn the lesson properly. As a teacher, I believe that it is important to go over all of the difficult vocabulary before a lesson and ask the students if they have any questions on vocab. I believe this article will help me to become a better teacher and will raise vocabulary awareness not just in school with a lot of ELL students, but in schools where the students may just have a hard time grasping some of the difficult vocabulary.
Chris Pickering
EDC 430
November 24, 2011
Article Review #2
This article focuses mainly on the need to improve science instruction at an early age so more students are able to meet the science achievement standards. A three year study was conducted at two different low-income, poverty schools in Texas. The instruction given to the students included many inquiry based activities, as well as scientific vocabulary development.
During the past 20 years, the population of white students in public school systems has decreased from 68% to 55%. The Hispanic population has doubled in size as well. What this means is that there has been a much higher need for ESL teachers and other resources for the students. One of the problems with these students learning science is there inability to grasp many of the scientific vocabulary. This, coupled with the increase in standards for the science curriculum is causing many of these students to perform poorly.
A study was conducted in two high poverty schools in Texas to address this issue. During the study, teachers planned activities that addressed each of the standards. They also included inquiry activities. Teachers would use word walls, give handout, and provide lessons to address the scientific vocabulary to make sure each of the ELL students knew what all of the words meant.
Before the study 51% of the students studied were passing the state tests. After the study, 98% of the students were passing! That’s almost a 200% increase!
After reading this article it really opened my eyes to why some of students do not do well in the classroom or on state tests. Sometimes it is not the material that thye are having trouble understanding, it is simply the vocabulary. If they do not get the background knowledge and get to know the words, how are the students going to learn the lesson properly. As a teacher, I believe that it is important to go over all of the difficult vocabulary before a lesson and ask the students if they have any questions on vocab. I believe this article will help me to become a better teacher and will raise vocabulary awareness not just in school with a lot of ELL students, but in schools where the students may just have a hard time grasping some of the difficult vocabulary.